City council to give go-ahead to 2013 demo projects

CORNWALL, Ontario - A slew of dilapidated city buildings are likely to be demolished later this year.

City council will meet Monday night and consider recommendations from staff that will see the Bob Turner Memorial Centre torn down, along with three clubhouses that were orgininally built as Second World War barracks.

A report to council suggests the entire structure at the Bob Turner will be demolished, but its concrete slab and possibly the hockey boards will be kept for recreation purposes.

It was suggested by Coun. Andre Rivette during budget deliberations earlier this year that the admin offices at the Bob Turner be retrofitted and kept. But city officials have poured cold water on that plan, suggesting such a move could cost upwards of $850,000.

The decades-old Bob Turner is in a dire state, with water pouring in from a leaky roof and health concerns evident.

"Evidence of mould growth was noticed on the interior finishes both in the arena and front administration area and a follow up mould study was done," reads a city hall report on the subject. "The results came back positive for mould growth in both the bulk and airborne samples."

The city set aside $150,000 last year to begin decommissioning the facility, and money from that funding envelope is being carried over to this year to complete the demolition work.

On top of the Bob Turner demo, there are three other buildings being ripped down this year too: the King George Park, Alexander Park and OCOT clubhouses.

Some of the clubhouses are still used by a city minor football program and the city plans to purchase some portable clasroom-type buildings so that players and league staff will still have use of something in the short-term.

The city will also lease portable washroom facilities for spring and summer use.